BUILDERS MERCHANT BUILDING INDEX

NOVEMBER BUILDERS’ MERCHANTS’ SALES TO BUILDERS AND TRADESPEOPLE INCREASE +1.4% IN VALUE, BUT VOLUME DOWN -13.6% AND PRICES UP +17.3%

The latest figures from the Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI), published in January, reveal that builders’ merchants’ value sales were up +1.4% in November 2022 compared to the same month in 2021. But volume sales tumbled -13.6% while prices climbed +17.3%. Nine of the twelve categories sold more in November compared to the previous year. Renewables & Water Saving (+37.9%) was the standout category, while Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (+17.5%), Workwear & Safetywear (+16.6%), Decorating (+15.3%) and Kitchens &

Bathrooms (+14.8%) did relatively well. Timber & Joinery Products (-12.0%) was the weakest category. Compared to November 2019, a more normal pre-Covid year, total merchant value sales were +29.8% higher. Volume sales fell -4.1% while prices were up +35.3%. With one extra trading day this year, like-for-like sales were +23.9% higher. All twelve categories sold more with four outperforming Merchants overall: Renewables & Water Saving (+58.1%), Landscaping (+39.7%), Timber & Joinery Products (+33.2%) and Heavy Building Materials (+31.1%).

Last Three Months

Total sales in the three months September to November 2022 were +3.9% up on the same period last year, with price inflation of +15.1%, and volumes down -9.7%. With one less trading day in the most recent period, likefor-like sales were +5.6% higher. Ten of the twelve categories sold more with Renewables & Water Saving (+54.8%), Workwear & Safetywear (+22.2%) and Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (+16.7%) doing best. Timber & Joinery Products (-11.1%) was weakest.

MONTH-ON-MONTH

Month-on-month, total merchant sales dropped -2.6% in November compared to October. Prices rose +4.9 but volume sales fell -7.2%. Despite the additional trading day in November, like-for-like sales were -7.0% down. Workwear & Safetywear (+11.2%) was the top performing category, followed by Kitchens & Bathrooms (+10.0%). Seasonal category Landscaping (-13.1%) was weakest.

ROLLING 12-MONTHS

Total Merchants sales in the 12 months December 2021 to November 2022 were

+24.5% higher than in the same 12 months three years earlier (December 2018 to November 2019), a more normal pre-Covid year.

With one less trading day in the most recent period, like-for-like sales growth was +25.0%.

All categories sold more with Landscaping (+38.4%), Timber & Joinery Products (+35.8%) and Renewables & Water Saving (+34.4%) growing faster than Merchants overall. Heavy Building Materials (+22.1%), Kitchens & Bathrooms (+20.3%) and Decorating (+9.3%) grew more slowly.

For the full report, including comments from the BMBI’s panel of leading industry Experts, please visit www.bmbi.co.uk.

After marking 10 years of the XtremeDoor brand, Vista Panels, the UK’s largest panel and composite door manufacturer, has given its dedicated website a timely makeover, giving customers easy access to information about the full range of doors on offer and improving customer experience across all platforms.

The revamped XtremeDoor website has been built specifically to help homeowners quickly find the door style best suited to their property.

Ian Smith, Vista’s Business Development and Marketing Manager, explains: “Most customers will have already decided whether they are after a traditional looking door or something a bit more modern or contemporary. The new website’s functionality is to quickly direct them down one of those paths, leading them to a wide range of door designs that will help them make an informed decision.

“The new website benefits from 10 years of customers sharing their photos via social media platforms